Planes, Trains And Paternal Leave, Plus A $34M Penthouse: The HUB

The HUB is rundown of the stories people in Boston are talking about. Patch publishes the HUB every weekday.

Good morning, Boston! It's Monday, March 22. Let's start with some stories you may have missed over the weekend.

Weekend Recap

The MBTA is rethinking service cuts and layoffs after criticism from the state's Congressional delegation, the Boston Herald reported in Saturday's editions. Rep. Stephen Lynch blasted the agency in a letter when the MBTA said it was sticking with its budget, even after it received more than $1 billion in federal coronavirus relief aide. As we reported earlier this month, the MBTA has more employees than it did in February 2020, even as ridership fell to a third of what it was before the coronavirus swept into the state a year ago.

The Massachusetts Port Authority gave two retiring executives payouts of $173,000 and $200,000 last year for unused sick days, even as the coronavirus pandemic forced the agency to cut its workforce. Meanwhile, three other employees received buyouts of more than $60,000 in 2020. While the rules requiring Massport to pay retiring workers for unused sick days were abolished 15 years ago, the agency still has 200 active employees who qualify for the perk, the Boston Globe reported.

New parents in the Bay State are being denied benefits under the parental leave program that started this year, and they're blaming a confusing application process. Several new moms and dads told the Boston Business Journal it has taken a month or more to get approved for a paycheck. "I think about people who truly live paycheck to paycheck," Sarah Aspinwall, one of the new mothers who was denied a portion of the benefit by the state. "This is a benefit I’m glad they can use, but I can’t imagine sitting around waiting for a check from the state and having bills to pay."

The Weekend's Top 3 Stories On Massachusetts Patch

1. Ex-Wife Accused Of Manslaughter In Noted Brookline Man's Death
2. 'His Life Had Purpose': Remembering Coronavirus Victims
3. Gov. Hopeful Backs Mandatory Vaccinations for Police, Teachers

Inside A $34 Million Boston Penthouse

Take a peek inside a 7,200 square-foot, never occupied, Back Bay penthouse that just hit the market. Penthouse 3 at One Dalton is part of the Four Seasons Private Residence Collection. In addition to a 50-square-foot private balcony overlooking the city and a 570-square-foot-grand terrace, the new owner will have access to the building amenities, including a yoga and pilates studio, a golf simulator, private theater and pet grooming area.

What I'm Reading

Maria Cramer writes about a Massachusetts woman who sent letters to American soldiers during the Vietnam War in Sunday's editions of the New York Times. Joan Hunter and one of her penpals, Cpl. Robert Johnson, ended up exchanging 77 letters. The letters between a white, Massachusetts housewife and a black soldier are being published in a book and will be featured in a podcast where actors will read the letters.

Sports

Actually, make that 21-21 after the Green beat the Magic Sunday. They'll face the Grizzlies tonight at 9. The Bruins are off until Thursday, while the Red Sox play the Rays in Grapefruit League action this afternoon. First pitch is at 1:05 p.m.

Weather

Sunday's gorgeous weather is with us at least through Tuesday. Today we can expect highs in the 60s and mostly sunny weather.